The World Union of Wound Healing Societies

The Second World Union of Wound Healing Societies meeting will be held in Paris from 8–13 July 2004. This congress will be the official and unique congress in 2004 for the most important Scientific Societies in wound healing including EPUAP, ETRS, EWMA and the French Wound Healing Society. Other well known international groups like the Association for Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), the Canadian Association of Wound Care (CAWC), the Japanese Society of Pressure Ulcers, and the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel will be ‘Privileged Partners’ at this World Congress. A large participation of all scientific groups or societies interested in wound healing, burns, pressure sores, leg ulcers, diabetic foot problems and trauma coming from all over the world has already been accomplished. More than 1100 free paper and poster abstracts are under review.

By bringing together disparate specialities, such as dermatology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, geriatrics and burns, this meeting represents an achievement offering a world-wide vision of this emerging field and discipline of wound healing. The World Union of Wound Healing Societies (founded in 2000, in Melbourne) has reached a level of organization that has allowed it to develop commissions and working parties on education, third world assistance, publications, research and organization of care.

What are the main goals to be achieved in Paris in 2004:

• Presenting new world-wide research and make this accessible to all practitioners.
• Extending our knowledge in the care of wounds, by exchanging techniques and practices from new dressings to traditional medicine, in order to produce valid international guidelines.
• Establishing ethical policies concerning the development of new techniques like cell cultures, embryo cultures and gene therapy in wound healing.
• Ensuring reimbursement of products and to this goal a large panel of invited European Politicians will meet practitioners to develop common strategies.
• Education will be provided through teaching courses in order to develop educational programs that can be used anywhere in the world.
• More than 5000 healthcare professionals are expected to attend this unique meeting. We are looking forward to meeting you there!

Luc Téot
Deputy Chairman of the second WUWHS